Convertible snowblower and lawn rake

ABSTRACT

A snowblower of the type including a forward transverse driven auger assembly provided with axially spaced opposite end right and left hand convolute auger blades and with the rear peripheral portions of the auger assemble embraced in a forwardly opening generally semi-cylindrical transverse shield having a central outlet opening formed therein toward which loose material against which the auger blades are advanced is conveyed. The auger assembly is displaceable forwardly relative to the transverse shield from its usual position so as to increase the spacing between the shield and the opposing outer peripheral portions of the auger blades and a plurality of resilient and removable raking tines are removably carried by the auger assembly and project at least slightly radially outwardly beyond the blades whereby the snowblower is converted to a raking machine.

United States Patent 1151 3,673,715

Lines 1 July 4, 1972 541 CONVERTIBLE SNOWBLOWER AND 2,712,211 7 1955 Smith et al. ..37/43 D ux LAWN RAKE 2,901,879 9/1959 Jones ..56/328 R Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerR. E. Suter Att0rneyClarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT A snowblower of the type including a forward transverse driven auger assembly provided with axially spaced opposite end right and left hand convolute auger blades and with the rear peripheral portions of the auger assemble embraced in a forwardly opening generally semi-cylindrical transverse shield having a central outlet opening formed therein toward which loose material against which the auger blades are advanced is conveyed. The auger assembly is displaceable forwardly relative to the transverse shield from its usual position so as to increase the spacing between the shield and the opposing outer peripheral portions of the auger blades and a plurality of resilient and removable raking tines are removably carried by the auger assembly and project at least slightly radially outwardly beyond the blades whereby the snowblower is converted to a raking machine.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CONVERTIBLE SNOWBLOWER AND LAWN RAKE A conventional snowblower of the type including a forward transverse driven auger assembly embraced in a forwardly opening generally semi-cylindrical transverse shield having a central outlet opening therein provides an efficient means for removing even deep snow from specific areas and the popularity of such snowblowers would be greatly increased if the initial cost could be reduced or greater usefulness could be realized from such snowblowers. While this type of snowblower is relatively popular in areas which receive heavy snowfalls through the winter months, the usefulness of such snowblowers is sometimes considered not to warrant the purchase of such relatively expensive equipment in areas which experience lighter or less frequent snowfalls.

Accordingly, inasmuch as present snowblower designs prevent the marketing of efficient snowblowers at low cost, it is the main object of this invention to provide a snowblower whose usefulness may be greatly extended by a relatively inexpensive conversion of the snowblower into a lawn raking machine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide mechanical components which may be readily incorporated into the manufacture of snowblowers or added to existing snowblowers at a nominal cost enabling the snowblowers to be quickly converted for use as lawn raking machines.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an assemblage of mechanical components which may be utilized in converting not only tractor mounted snowblowers into lawn raking machines but which may also be utilized in converting lighter duty snowblowers into raking machines.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an assemblage of component parts for converting a snowblower into a lawn raking machine and including structural features which may be readily adjusted in a manner adapting the lawn raking machine to a specific lawn raking operation according to the quantity of material to be raked and the length of the grass from which the material is to be raked.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an assemblage of component parts for converting a snowblower into a lawn raking machine and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to install so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively troublefree in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a conventional form of snowblower which has been modified in accordance with the present invention for forming a lawn raking machine, parts of the snowblower being broken away to more clearly illustrate the structural and operational features thereof;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the converted snowblower;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view illustrating the positioning of the forward transverse driven auger assembly of the snowblower in its normal position for snowblowing operations;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the auger shaft portion of the snowblower illustrating the manner in which the raking tine assembly components of the instant invention are removably secured to the auger shaft;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which the auger shaft of the converted snowblower is supported from the shield portion of the snowblower for adjustable shifting in front-to-rear direction relative to the snowblower shield; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which the auger shaft is forwardly displaced relative to the longitudinal drive shaft of the snowblower.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a snowblower which is substantially conventional in design. The blower 10 includes a body 12 from whose rear upper portion an internal combustion engine 14 is supported. The engine 14 includes a forwardly directed rotary output shaft 16 having a pair of drive pulleys l8 and 20 mounted thereon and a transmission input shaft 22 is joumaled from the body 12 and has a driven pulley 24 mounted thereon. The pulley l8.is drivingly connected to the pulley 24 by means of an endless flexible belt 26 and the transmission input shaft 22 is drivingly coupled to any suitable form of transmission (not shown) through a clutch assembly (not shown) and the transmission is drivingly connected to the rear opposite side drive wheels 28 joumaled from the body 12.

The forward portion of the body 12 includes a forwardly opening, horizontally disposed and generally longitudinally extending duct assembly 30 and a blower shaft 32 is joumaled from the body 12 and extends forwardly through the central portion of the duct assembly 30. The rear end of the blower shaft 32 has a driven pulley 34 mounted thereon and the drive pulley 20 is drivingly coupled to the driven pulley 34 by means of an endless flexible belt 36. The belt 36 has a belt tightening pulley (not shown) operatively associated therewith whereby the belt 36 may be tensioned or rendered slack so as to disengage the output shaft 16 from its driving connection with the blower shaft 32.

The upper peripheral portion of the duct assembly 30 includes a radial outlet opening 38 with which the inlet end of a rotatable discharge duct 40 is operatively associated and the forward end of the duct assembly 30 is secured to a horizontally disposed and transversely extending elongated semicylindrical shield 42 about the portions thereof defining a centrally disposed discharge opening 44 formed therein.

The opposite ends of the shield 42 include right and left side walls 46 which close in the opposite ends of the semi-cylindrical shield 42 and'an elongated auger assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 48 is joumaled between the side walls 46. The auger assembly 48 includes an elongated shaft portion 50 and right and left hand convolute auger blades 52 and 54 supported from the left and right hand ends, respectively, of the shaft 50.

The auger blades 52 and 54 are supported in concentric relation relative to the shaft 50 by means of supporting spokes 56 and the adjacent ends of the blades 52 and 54 are axially spaced apart along the shaft 50.

The central portion of the shaft 50 disposed between the adjacent ends of the blades 52 and 54 is joumaled through a gear housing referred to in general by the reference numeral 58 and has a worm wheel 60 mounted thereon for rotation therewith within the housing 58. The housing 58 includes a tubular portion 62 extending longitudinally of the blower 10 and the forward end of the blower shaft 32 is joumaled in the tubular portion 62. The front end of the blower shaft 32 disposed within the tubular portion 62 has a splined tubular worm gear 64 mounted thereon which is meshed with the worm wheel 60 and it will be noted from FIG. 6 of the drawings that the splined forward end portion 66 of the shaft 32 and the worm gear 64 are constructed in a manner whereby the housing 58, including the tubular portion 62, may be shifted to the left as viewed in FIG. 6 of the drawings until the forward end of the shaft 32 abuts the inner surface 68 of the closure cap 70 threadedly engaged with and closing the front end of the tubular portion 62.

A blower element 72 is mounted on the shaft 32 within the duct 30 and is operable to axially receive material advanced there toward rearwardly through the duct 30 and to discharge material from the duct 30 outwardly through the discharge duct 40.

The opposite side walls 46 of the shield 42 include vertically adjustable skid feet for engagement with the ground 82 whereby the elevation of the axis of rotation of the auger assembly 48 and the lower peripheral edge portion of the shield 42 may be adjusted relative to the ground 82.

The preceding may be considered as a general description of a-convenu'onal form of snowblower.

When converting the snowblower 10 for utilization as a lawn rake, the side walls 46 have upper and lower narrow arcuate slots 86 and 88 .formed therein as well as opposite side intermediate arcuate slots 90 formed therein. The slots 86, 88 and 90 may be formed in the side walls 46 in any convenient manner. In addition, a pair of bores 92 are formed in the side walls 46 and a pair of upstanding support straps 94 are provided. The'support straps 94 have their upper ends pivotally secured to the inner surfaces of the side walls 46 by means of pivot fasteners 96 secured through the support or mounting straps 94 and the bores 92. In addition, each of the support straps includes a pair of small diameter bores 98 formed throughreinforcing bosses 100 carried by the support members 94 and slidingly receivable through the corresponding slots 86 and 88; In addition, each of the support members 94 includes a large diameterbore 102 which is registered with and of a diameter equal to the width of the slot 90.

In addition to the support members 94, a pair of identical journal straps 104 are provided. The straps 104 are vertically elongated and have bores 106 formed through their upper and lower ends registrable with the bores 98 and each strap 104 includes a central horizontal journal portion 108. The journal straps l04are secured to the outer surface portions of the side walls 46 by means of removable fasteners 110 secured through the bores 98 and 106 and it may be noted from FIG. of the drawings that the inner ends of the journal portions 108 which project inwardly of the plane of the journal plates 104 are slidingly received in the corresponding slots 90.

The reinforcing bosses 100 project outwardly of the outer sides of the support members 94 a distance slightly less than the thickness of the side walls 46 whereby when the fasteners 110 are tightened the side walls 46 are clampingly engaged between the support members 94 and the journal straps 104.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it may be seen that the support members 94 have their lower ends inclined rearwardly so as to position the axis of rotation of the auger assembly 48 adjacent the rear ends of the slots 90. Of course, this positions the outer peripheral portions of the auger blades 52 and 54 close to the inner concave surfaces 110 of the shield 42. Accordingly, when the lower ends of the support members 94 are inclined forwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the axis of rotation of the auger assembly 48 is positioned adjacent the forward ends of the slots 90 and the spacing between the rearperipheral portions of the auger blades 52 and 54 and the inner surface 1 of the shield 42 is increased.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, it may be seen that the auger shaft 50 has pairs of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced mounting pins 112 secured thereto in any convenient manner such as by welding 114, The mounting pins 112 extend generally tangentially of the shaft 50 and include diametric bores 1 16 on their outer end portions.

A plurality of raking tine assemblies generally referred to by the reference numerals 118 are provided and each assembly 1 18 includesa pairof generally parallel mounting sleeve portions land a plurality of resilient elongated raking tines 122.,The rakingtines-l22 of each assembly 118 are divergent toward their ends remote from the corresponding mounting sleeve portions 120 andeach pair of mounting sleeve portions 120 is .telescopingly engageable over a corresponding pair of mounting pins 112 inwardly of the associated bores 116 whereby removable keepers 124 may be passed through the bores l 16 in order to releasably retain the raking tine assemblies 118 on the shaft 50.

From FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be noted that the raking tine assemblies are disposed between adjacent convolutions of the auger blades 52 and 54 and spaced circumferentially about the shaft 50 in a manner such that the outer peripheral portions of the assemblies 118 will sweep almost the entire width of the path along which the snowblower 10 is advanced.

When the snowblower 10 is to be utilized for snowblowing operations, the raking tine assemblies 118 are removed and the support members 94 are adjusted so as to position the semblies 118 are mounted on the shaft 50 and it will be noted that the outer peripheral ends of the raking tines 122 are, by displacing the axis of rotation of the auger assembly 48, forwardly, maintained in spaced relation relative to the inner surface of the shield 42.

Although the apparatus for converting a snowblower into a raking machine has been illustrated and described in conjunction with a snowblower such as snowblower 10 provided with the blower element 72, some snowblowers merely utilize higher rotational speed of an auger assembly similar to auger assembly 48 and provide a shield such as 42 with a rearwardly and upwardly opening discharge opening in lieu of the opening 44 for direct discharge of snow from the auger assembly 48 without further acting upon the snow by means of a blower assembly represented by the blower element 72. Of, course, the structure for converting a snowblowerto a raking machine may also be utilized in conjunction with such a simplified form of snowblower.

While the structure for converting a snowblower to a lawn raking machine utilizes the strap members 94 and journal plates 104 for joumaling the opposite ends of the auger assembly 48 from the side walls 46 of the shield 42, conventional snowblower assemblies utilize any suitable means for journaling the opposite ends of the auger assemblies thereof from the side walls of the associated shields. This conventional means is of course removed and discarded when the support members 94 and journal straps 104 are ufilized.

In addition to the auger assembly 48 being forwardly displaced relative to the shield 42 in order to provide the increased running clearance for the outer ends of the raking tines 122, the shield 42 could be constructed so as to be shiftable rearwardly relative to the auger 'assembly48 in order to provide the necessary increased running clearance for the tines 122.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedv to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combination lawn rake and snowblower including a forward elongated transverse driven auger assembly journaled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis and provided with axially spaced opposite end right and left hand convolute auger blades, a forwardly opening generally semi-cylindrical transverse shield assembly in which the rear peripheral p0rtions of said auger assembly are embracingly received, the inner surface portions of said shield being spaced outwardly from the outer peripheral portions of said blades, means operative to adjust the distance between said shield and the axis of rotation of said auger assembly, said shield including a central opening toward which said blades are adapted to convey material, said auger assembly including circumferentially and longitudinally spaced resilient raking tines removably supported therefrom and extending generally'radially outwardly beyond the outer peripheral portions of said blades,

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shield includes opposite side walls, means joumaling the opposite ends of said augerassembly from said side walls and for fore-and-aft shifting of said auger shafi relative to said shield, said raking tines being removably supported from said auger assembly.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said central opening in said shield opens generally horizontally rearwardly through the latter and said blower includes a driven forwardly facing axial inlet and radial discharge rotary blower member disposed rearwardly of said opening and joumaled for rotation about a horizontal axis extending through said opening.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means joumaling the opposite ends of said auger assembly from said side walls include upstanding mounting straps having one pair of corresponding ends thereof pivotally supported from said side walls for oscillation about aligned horizontal transverse axes, means releasably securing the other pair of corresponding ends of said mounting straps to said side walls in similar angularly displaced positions, and coacting means on the opposite ends of said auger assembly and on said straps at points spaced therealong from said axes joumaling said ends of said auger assembly from said straps.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said auger assembly includes a central shaft portion from which said blades are supported, said central shaft portion and said tines including coacting releasably engageable male and female portions supporting said tines from said shaft portion for rotation therewith.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shield includes opposite side walls, means joumaling the opposite ends of said auger assembly from said side walls and for fore and-aft shifting of said auger shaft relative to said shield, said central opening in said shield opening generally horizontally rearwardly through the latter and said blower includes a driven forwardly facing axial inlet and a radial discharge rotary blower member disposed rearwardly of said opening and joumaled for rotation about a horizontal axis extending through said opening.

7. For use with a snowblower of the type including a driven forward elongated transverse and generally horizontally disposed rotary snow auger assembly joumaled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis and including convolute auger blades and a forwardly opening generally horizontal transversely extending semi-cylindrical shield assembly from which said snow auger assembly is joumaled with said shield assembly closely embracing the rear portion of the circular paths through which said blades swing, a conversion kit for converting said snowblower into a lawn raking assembly, said kit including mounting means for supporting said auger assembly from said shield assembly for fore-and-aft generally horizontal shifting of said axis relative to said shield assembly, whereby the spacing between the rear portions of said circular paths and said shield assembly may be increased, drive means for driving said auger assembly and including means for maintaining its driving relationship in both the fore-and-afl positions of said axis and a plurality of elongated resilient raking fingers including means for removable securement to circumferentially and longitudinally spaced portions of said auger assembly with said fingers extending generally radially of the axis of rotation of said auger assembly and projecting at least slightly outwardly beyond said paths.

8. The method of converting a conventional snowblower to a raking machine, said snowblower including a forward elongated transverse driven rotary auger assembly provided with axially spaced opposite end right and left hand convolute auger blades and a forwardly opening horizontally disposed and transversely extending shield closely embracing the rear peripheral portions of said auger blades, said method of converting comprising the steps of forwardly displacing the axis of rotation of the auger assembly relative to the shield and attaching generally radially outwardly projecting resilient raking fingers to said auger assembly at points spaced circumferentially thereabout and longitudinally therealong with said fingers projecting outwardly of the circular paths through which said blades swing.

9. The method of converting a conventional snowblower to a raking machine, said snowblower including a forward elongated transverse driven rotary auger assembly provided with axially spaced 0 posite end right and left hand convolute auger blades an a forwardly opening horizontally disposed and transversely extending shield closely embracing the rear peripheral portions of said auger blades, said method of converting comprising the steps of relatively shifting the shield and the axis of rotation of the rotary auger assembly so as to increase the horizontal distance therebetween, and attaching generally radially outwardly projecting resilient raking fingers to said auger assembly at points spaced circumferentially thereabout and longitudinally therealong with said fingers projecting outwardly of the circular paths through which said blades swing. 

1. A combination lawn rake and snowblower including a forward elongated transverse driven auger assembly journaled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis and provided with axially spaced opposite end right and left hand convolute auger blades, a forwardly opening generally semi-cylindrical transverse shield assembly in which the rear peripheral portions of said auger assembly are embracingly received, the inner surface portions of said shield being spaced outwardly from the outer peripheral portions of said blades, means operative to adjust the distance between said shield and the axis of rotation of said auger assembly, said shield including a central opening toward which said blades are adapted to convey material, said auger assembly including circumferentially and longitudinally spaced resilient raking tines removably supported therefrom and extending generally radially outwardly beyond the outer peripheral portions of said blades.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shield includes opposite side walls, means journaling the opposite ends of said auger assembly from said side walls and for fore-and-aft shifting of said auger shaft relative to said shield, said raking tines being removably supported from said auger assembly.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said central opening in said shield opens generally horizontally rearwardly through the latter and said blower includes a driven forwardly facing axial inlet and radial discharge rotary blower member disposed rearwardly of said opening and journaled for rotation about a horizontal axis extending through said opening.
 4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means journaling the opposite ends of said auger assembly from said side walls include upstanding mounting straps having one pair of corresponding ends thereof pivotally supported from said side walls for oscillation about aligned horizontal transverse axes, means releasably securing the other pair of corresponding ends of said mounting straps to said side walls in similar angularly displaced positions, and coacting means on the opposite ends of said auger assembly and on said straps at points spaced therealong from said axes journaling said ends of said auger assembly from said straps.
 5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said auger assembly includes a central shaft portion from which said blades are supported, said central shaft portion and said tines including coacting releasably engageable male and female portions supporting said tines from said shaft portion for rotation therewith.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shield includes opposite side walls, means journaling the opposite ends of said auger assembly from said side walls and for fore-and-aft shifting of said auger shaft relative to said shield, said central opening in said sHield opening generally horizontally rearwardly through the latter and said blower includes a driven forwardly facing axial inlet and a radial discharge rotary blower member disposed rearwardly of said opening and journaled for rotation about a horizontal axis extending through said opening.
 7. For use with a snowblower of the type including a driven forward elongated transverse and generally horizontally disposed rotary snow auger assembly journaled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis and including convolute auger blades and a forwardly opening generally horizontal transversely extending semi-cylindrical shield assembly from which said snow auger assembly is journaled with said shield assembly closely embracing the rear portion of the circular paths through which said blades swing, a conversion kit for converting said snowblower into a lawn raking assembly, said kit including mounting means for supporting said auger assembly from said shield assembly for fore-and-aft generally horizontal shifting of said axis relative to said shield assembly, whereby the spacing between the rear portions of said circular paths and said shield assembly may be increased, drive means for driving said auger assembly and including means for maintaining its driving relationship in both the fore-and-aft positions of said axis and a plurality of elongated resilient raking fingers including means for removable securement to circumferentially and longitudinally spaced portions of said auger assembly with said fingers extending generally radially of the axis of rotation of said auger assembly and projecting at least slightly outwardly beyond said paths.
 8. The method of converting a conventional snowblower to a raking machine, said snowblower including a forward elongated transverse driven rotary auger assembly provided with axially spaced opposite end right and left hand convolute auger blades and a forwardly opening horizontally disposed and transversely extending shield closely embracing the rear peripheral portions of said auger blades, said method of converting comprising the steps of forwardly displacing the axis of rotation of the auger assembly relative to the shield and attaching generally radially outwardly projecting resilient raking fingers to said auger assembly at points spaced circumferentially thereabout and longitudinally therealong with said fingers projecting outwardly of the circular paths through which said blades swing.
 9. The method of converting a conventional snowblower to a raking machine, said snowblower including a forward elongated transverse driven rotary auger assembly provided with axially spaced opposite end right and left hand convolute auger blades and a forwardly opening horizontally disposed and transversely extending shield closely embracing the rear peripheral portions of said auger blades, said method of converting comprising the steps of relatively shifting the shield and the axis of rotation of the rotary auger assembly so as to increase the horizontal distance therebetween, and attaching generally radially outwardly projecting resilient raking fingers to said auger assembly at points spaced circumferentially thereabout and longitudinally therealong with said fingers projecting outwardly of the circular paths through which said blades swing. 